Arrest made in 2003 firebombing that killed 5
After a firebombing in Olney that killed five people - one of them an infant - in 2003, then-Fire Commissioner Harold B. Hairston said, "This is murder, there is no question about it."
After a firebombing in Olney that killed five people - one of them an infant - in 2003, then-Fire Commissioner Harold B. Hairston said, "This is murder, there is no question about it."
But for nearly 13 years, the question of who set the fire and why remained - until Tuesday, when Police Homicide Capt. James Clark announced an arrest in the case and said the motive for the deadly blaze was "pride."
Clark said police arrested Abdu Rivera, 32, of Holmesburg, on Monday and charged him with five counts of murder and related offenses in the Nov. 18, 2003, arson that killed boxer John Santiago, 23; his girlfriend, Clarissa DaVila, 17; Santiago's daughter, 3-month-old Jacqueline; his brother, 17-year-old Alex; and his mother, Francesca DeJesus, 41.
Before the fire, Santiago, a featherweight boxer and three-time Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champ, had gotten into a fight outside a club with Rivera and his friends, Clark said, and easily defeated them.
Later that evening, Rivera used Molotov cocktails to start the fire on the 100 block of Widener Street, police said. John Santiago, DaVila, their baby, and DeJesus perished in the blaze. Four others fled from the fire, including Alex Santiago, who suffered smoke inhalation and burns over 70 percent of his body. He died from his injuries 13 days later.
"This was over a bar fight and pride," Clark said. "Because of their pride being hurt, they found out where he lived, came back to the house, and set the house on fire, killing him and several of his family members."
Investigators determined early that the fire was arson. Rivera's name came up in initial investigations, but at the time, witnesses would not come forward, Clark said.
The detective assigned to the case retired, and in July 2014, two new detectives - John Verrecchio and Thomas Gaul - took it over. They worked to secure witnesses and make an arrest, police said.
"After a lot of work and going back out there, the witnesses were more comfortable, I guess, and they came and they did the right thing," Clark said.
Authorities apprehended Rivera at Philip and Ontario Streets in North Philadelphia on Monday.
"He was very surprised to see us," Clark said.
Police still anticipate one or more additional arrests as a result of the investigation, which is ongoing, Clark said.
"But this individual is the main person involved, so we're very happy to get him off of the streets," he said.
Rivera is "extremely well known to police" and has a "lengthy criminal history," Clark said.
According to court records, Rivera was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2004 and sentenced to three months to a year in prison. In 2007, he was convicted of firearms offenses and sentenced to one to four years in prison.
As with all homicide cases, there was a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect. Clark said someone will get the $100,000 reward - $20,000 for each victim - but he declined to identify the tipster.
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